Canadian catcher leads Illini to national ranking

Brad Vest The Daily Illini Illinois Aaron Johnson celebrates at home plate after he hit a home-run during Tuesday nights game versus Illinois State University, April 22, 2008. Illinois won the game 10-4.

Brad Vest The Daily Illini Illinois’ Aaron Johnson celebrates at home plate after he hit a home-run during Tuesday night’s game versus Illinois State University, April 22, 2008. Illinois won the game 10-4.

By Peter Zervakis

Illinois baseball coaches are picky when it comes to recruiting catchers. They expect them to be intelligent, skilled and, if possible, Canadian.

The two highest MLB amateur draft picks ever to come from the Illini program were both catchers from Canada: Chris Robinson was drafted with the 90th pick of the 2006 draft, and in 2008, Lars Davis was selected 102nd overall.

So it’s no surprise that Aaron Johnson, Illinois’ starting catcher, hails from America’s neighbor to the north.

“We’ve got some good connections up there,” head coach Dan Hartleb said. “So when we go up there to talk to coaches and players … they listen.”

Johnson, a junior, was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on Monday following a weekend which he batted 6-for-12 with five RBIs and hit a game-winning home run. Johnson’s performance led the Illini (7-2) to a series victory over then-No. 1 LSU that vaulted the Orange and Blue to a No. 21 ranking in the national polls – their first Top-25 appearance since April 2000 and highest ranking since May 1998.

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“I’ve been playing this game for so long, I’ve got a lot of memories,” Johnson said. “I can’t pick just one. But beating the best team in the country, at their place, in front of 10,000 people, is definitely up there.”

Johnson began playing the game of baseball as a 6-year-old, growing up in Sussex Corner, New Brunswick, Canada. He attended Sussex Regional High School and was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 46th round of the 2006 MLB amateur draft. But rather than take the professional route, Johnson opted play at Lethbridge College, the same school Davis attended before donning an Illinois uniform.

“I went to junior college in Alberta, which is all the way across the country (from New Brunswick),” Johnson said.

Johnson had a breakout season for Lethbridge in the summer of 2007, batting .333 with 18 RBIs in 21 games. Soon after, the Illini coaching staff came calling. Johnson said he was primarily recruited to Illinois by associate head coach Eric Snider, and though the 6-foot, 195-pounder had offers from other schools, he decided Illinois was the best opportunity.

“It’s been great playing here and with all these great guys and this great coaching staff every day,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he has played catcher for as long as he can remember, something Hartleb said is no easy feat. Playing catcher requires not only solid hitting, but a knack for throwing runners out – and Johnson has both.

“The thing that makes Aaron so valuable is that he’s solid in a lot of areas,” Hartleb said.

This season, Johnson’s 13 RBIs and two home runs are good for first and second on the team, respectively.

Last year he threw out 43 percent of base-stealers and led the conference in runners caught stealing with 24. But in Hartleb’s opinion, the biggest intangible Johnson brings to the field everyday is his pitch-calling ability.

“He has helped to make our pitching staff better,” Hartleb said. “Controlling the pitching staff is the most important thing any catcher can do.”

Johnson credited many of these skills to simple intuition, and teammates agree.

“He sees things before they happen,” said Illini freshman Adam Davis, the team’s backup catcher.

Adam Davis said playing behind Johnson has really helped him to adjust to the college game, as the two often hang out, drive to practice together and work on skills such as hitting and footwork.

“He shows me what I’m doing wrong,” Davis said. “Both catching and hitting-wise.”

Hartleb said Johnson taking Davis under his wing is just a testament to the kind of person he is.

“He’s a team player,” Hartleb said. “He’s well-liked, and he always tries to help out the younger guys.”

But Johnson also cited the possibility that he might be one of the younger guys again someday. He hopes to take his game to the next level.

“I want to play baseball as long as I can,” Johnson said, “Whether it’s professional, or whatever I can get into. I want to keep playing.”

Honorable Mention

Mike Poeta – wrestling

The senior, ranked second in the nation, won the Big Ten title at 157 pounds, his second straight conference crown.

Gakologelwang Masheto – men’s track

Masheto ran the fastest 400 meters in the world in 2009, taking first place at the Cyclone National Track and Field Qualifier with a time of 45.8 seconds.